2018-2020 Hunting Proposals Out for Comment

[Limhangerslayer]

I'm mot sure why, but my phone won't open wdfw's but will everybody's else's just fine.  Any suggestions?

[Rainier10]

If I read that right they eliminated all Yakima early season archery cow hunts for elk and took spikes away from the colockum guys. Looks like I am done with archery in this state if that happens.

You are reading that right.
Disappointing.

They had to take the OTC cow elk hunt away from the archers.  The herd was declining to fast.  If you really want to hunt for cow elk in those units just switch to muzzy or modern they doubled the muzzy cow tags and went from 100 modern tags to 250.  I am guessing that it is a feel good move and they realize that even with the increased permits for those two user groups the animals won't get killed because everyone knows that muzzy and modern guys don't leave the road and can't hit squat if they do see something.

I am totally kidding.  I am pretty those the muzzy guys and modern guys are going to be way more successful with those permits than the OTC archery guys were.

I am sure there is a reason why they eliminated the cow hunt for archers and increased the modern and muzzy tags by so much.  I am thinking the change wasn't because of herd health but more about getting the other user groups more opportunity.  They did give the archery guys just as many tags as the muzzy guys and the archery guys do still have an OTC late season cow hunt.

[JimmyHoffa]

closing some bear units that are in grizzly bear recovery areas, unless you go take a special bear test.

A Nov 1 close date for blacktail in 2020. 

[Rainier10]

At first glance, I actually am a bit of a fan of the special test thing to hunt in a bear or goat unit.

[elkchaser54]

Where can u see the actual proposals? I click the link and it just brings me to the talk about giving input.

[Rainier10]

Where can u see the actual proposals? I click the link and it just brings me to the talk about giving input.

On that link to the right of the "comment" tab there is a number, click on those numbers and you will see the rules for each section that you click on.

[JimmyHoffa]

Where can u see the actual proposals? I click the link and it just brings me to the talk about giving input.

I click on the adobe icon with the WAC number.

[Humptulips]

In the proposed changes for sealing bobcat, river otter, lynx and cougar there is this:

WAC 220-400-050 Requirements for sealing of pelts and collectionof biological information for river otter, cougar, lynx, and bobcat.
(1)It is unlawful to possess river otter, cougar, lynx, or bobcattaken in Washington without a department identification seal which hasbeen attached to the raw pelt, on or off the carcass, prior to thepelt sealing deadline.

Should not this read after instead of prior. I've read this like 16 times and it seems wrong. I commented on it but would like to hear from someone else. Am I just reading it wrong?

[Skyvalhunter]

Here we go the state just doesn't get it. For example they increased the number of permits in the Alta unit for the devastated Methow herd. All they care about is $$$$ not the future of the deer and elk population. Well all I can do is give my  input to them. Very frustrating.

[Karl Blanchard]

They really hosed the youth this year.

[RB]

Whats up with the Nooksack? it says TBD does that mean they are going to to cut them? The region four quality Deer draw is better with the extended dates a four day season is just too short for a "quality" hunt in my book and why I have not put in for the hunt even though it is in my back yard. 

[Gamblin Guy]

Looks like I will be spending my money for out of state tags from now on, pretty much done with this state.....

[trophyhunt]

Looks like I will be spending my money for out of state tags from now on, pretty much done with this state.....

I bet a lot of guys will be doing that.  Taking the cow elk away from the early archery hunters in the bumping and nile is complete BS.  And I'm pretty sure that they aren't giving out 74 cow moose tags in mt Spokane, that has to be a typo. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Looks like I will be spending my money for out of state tags from now on, pretty much done with this state.....

This will be our 12th season out of state.  Need to just move there as well.

[lokidog]

In the proposed changes for sealing bobcat, river otter, lynx and cougar there is this:

WAC 220-400-050 Requirements for sealing of pelts and collectionof biological information for river otter, cougar, lynx, and bobcat.
(1)It is unlawful to possess river otter, cougar, lynx, or bobcattaken in Washington without a department identification seal which hasbeen attached to the raw pelt, on or off the carcass, prior to thepelt sealing deadline.

Should not this read after instead of prior. I've read this like 16 times and it seems wrong. I commented on it but would like to hear from someone else. Am I just reading it wrong?

It makes sense to me, the identification seal must be attached before the deadline. Am I missing something?